Friday, February 27, 2015

Molly Hatch’s plate paintings look like mosaics of decorative china designs that hang on your wall. Each plate in Hatch’s collection carries a painting that’s beautiful in its own right, but it also makes up part of a bigger picture. The work together as mosaic tiles. From a distance, you can grasp the overall concept, but up close, you can appreciate the individual contributions of each “tile” — or dish.
Hatch varies plate sizes and shapes to give her collections a whimsical feel. She favors floral, tribal and Colonial-style patterns.
Hatch says that her wholesome New England upbringing guided her into pursuing ceramic art for her career. “Born in 1978, the daughter of a painter and an organic dairy farmer, my childhood was divided between physical labor, play and creating art,” she says. The artist is now based in Northamptom, Massachusetts.

This past Valentine's Day, one mother got the chance of a lifetime. She heard her son's heartbeat for the first time in nearly two decades when she finally met the heart-transplant recipient whose life had been saved thanks to her son's organ donation. Saturday, which was also National Donor Day, marked an emotional and momentous occasion for the two women, who wept and embraced tightly upon seeing each other in Tampa International Airport.
Vicki Brannon's son, Matthew McIntyre, passed away on July 5, 1996 after being mortally wounded by a friend who had accidentally fired a handgun. The grieving mother made the decision to donate Matthew's organs, and the next day, the 14-year-old boy's heart went to Jennifer Lentini. The 13-year-old girl, who had suffered from heart disease and was hospitalized for months waiting for a transplant, was given a new lease on life thanks to Matthew's heart.
With her ear pressed against Jennifer's chest, listening to Matthew's heart beat in its new home this past Saturday, tears rolled down Vicki's cheeks as she said, "My Matthew is in there." Jennifer, who is now happy and healthy, called Matthew her "guardian angel" and gave Vicki a necklace with his initials and an angel inside a circle. Jennifer had arranged the tearful, joyous meeting after tracking down Matthew's family in order to finally say thank you.
"I'm overwhelmed, I'm happy—my son had a good, strong heart and it has kept her alive," Vicki told NY Daily News. "I feel like I gained a daughter."

As temperatures in the upper parts of the US dipped down into the negatives this past week, photographer Joshua Nowicki came across this strange sight in St. Joseph, Michigan. Dozens of small sand towers rose from the frozen surface of Silver Beach near Lake Michigan, making up a miniature landscape resembling otherworldly terrain or the surface of another planet.
The extraordinary phenomenon was due to the weather. Intense cold resulted in frozen layers of sand that were eventually eroded by strong gusts of wind, similar to how canyons and rock formations are carved by natural elements. The sand towers, which ranged in height from 6 to 12 inches, lasted only a brief period of time, as Nowicki discovered a few days later that they had melted away under sunny skies.

If you’re local to the New York City/New Jersey area, then you’re probably familiar with the George Washington Bridge. The massive architectural structure connects Manhattan to Fort Lee, New Jersey and makes it possible for relatively easy travel between the two places. But, did you know that besides its usefulness, it also lights up? The bridge is illuminated, unannounced, during a few holidays a year. A photographer with the moniker Dark Cyanide recently captured some stunning shots of it on Presidents Day.
The gorgeous photos feature a bright-white bridge set against a dark gray sky. Yellow and red streaks of light line its pathways. From some angles, you see the glittering, lit-up buildings on the other side of the bridge.
The two towers of the George Washington Bridge are 604-feet tall with 760 light fixtures placed on the interior (380 on each). According to the New York Port Authority’s brochure titled George Washington Bridge Interesting Facts, they were turned on for the first time during July 4th, 2000 in celebration of Independence Day.

This magnificent new bookstore is a treasure trove for literature lovers and architecture enthusiasts alike. Recently opened in Bucharest, Romania, the six-story Carousel of Light houses 10,000 books for sale. The building’s 19th Century façade and interior was restored to preserve its breathtaking details. With a first-floor modern art gallery and top-floor bistro included in the facility, the Carousel of Light truly incorporates a sampling of the best of fine arts and culture.
This beautiful book gallery calls to mind other stunning architectural landmarks — both real and fictional. The magnificent whitewashed columns with ornate carvings are reminiscent of a pristine Parthenon at the height of its glory. The multi-storied walkways and stately staircases evoke a presidential, Library of Congress feel. And the open floor plan and towering rows of books hearken back to the magical castle library from Beauty and the Beast. It’s inevitable that the Carousel of Light will similarly offer visitors magical experiences.

The winners of the Outdoor Photographer of the Year 2014 were just announced! UK landscape photographer Greg Whitton nabbed the top prize with his stunning image of light hitting the Southern Highlands in Iceland. It was taken during a six-day wild camping trip in Iceland with four other photographers. Greg shot the photo on the last night of the trip. During the whole six days, he hadn't had a moment of good light. On the last day, the group pitched their tents below a minor peak and then Greg noticed the incredible view from the top. The clouds were blocking the sun, and to make things worse, his camera battery was running out and he didn't have a spare. Feeling dejected, he started his descent back to basecamp. Then, a miracle happened.
"After making my way about 50 meters down the mountain the clouds started to part slightly. The light only lasted a few minutes. I’ve got other photographs when the light became really epic, but for me this image, where the light is building, is more successful."
Greg's image was chosen from more than 10,000 images that were entered by both professional and amateur photographers from all around the world. What did the judges see in the shot? Outdoor Photography magazine editor Steve Watkins said, "Greg’s picture turned out to be the overwhelming favorite among the judges. I love how he captured the amazing light sweeping across the Icelandic peaks: it’s dramatic, has impact and longevity. His photograph is the worthy winner of Outdoor Photographer of the Year 2014."
Greg wins a trip of a lifetime. In April 2015, he'll be off to the Arctic for the Fjällräven Polar dog sled expedition.
Below are some photos of the category winners (and those commended). Greg was not only the overall winner he was also the category winner for Light on the Land. His image fulfilled the contest's calling: "Under sunset’s fiery skies, in fleeting twilight, with the gentler light of the moon, or with the first rays of a new day, we are looking for stunning landscape images from anywhere in the world."Light on the Land: CommendedGimsøy, Lofoten Islands, NorwayApril 2013 saw some of the deepest snow that this archipelago had experienced for many years. One snowstorm after another engulfed me but the gaps between the storms provided exciting opportunities. On this occasion the parting clouds briefly framed the mountain at dusk.Photo and caption by: Claire Carter

Light on the Land: CommendedDark LakeI captured this photograph in the mountains around Petit Mont Cenis in Savoie in France. I went to this place many times to find the right weather conditions to capture the gloomy shot I’d had in mind for a while. On this occasion, I went during a storm, and just before sunset the rain stopped. The light filtered through the clouds, creating the right atmosphere.Photo and caption by: Marco Barone

Light on the Land: CommendedIcelandic beachThis was taken in Iceland as the very last rays of sun hit the beach. A storm had just passed and only a very thin gap in the clouds let the light through, briefly illuminating the basalt rocks but leaving the rest of the scene dark and dramatic.Photo and caption by: Samuel Feron

At the Water's Edge: WinnerRiver Wharfe, Yorkshire DalesThe river Wharfe has it origin in the upper northern Yorkshire Dales, and it narrows considerably at a place known as ‘the Strid’ on the Bolton Abbey estate. There was a lovely thick fog that particular morning. I got to work quickly as the light and weather conditions were changing rapidly. It was the combination of elements within the scene that raised my interest level as soon as I looked through the viewfinder. Golden autumn leaves on the ground balanced the heavy damp air and foliage, and the central river merging with the fog in the distance provided a sense of depth. I chose a long shutter speed to soften the water movement and to instill a sense of time. The ever-strengthening autumn sun filtered by the fog provided wonderful diffuse light.Photo and caption by: Shaun Walby

At the Water's Edge: CommendedSvalbardThe polar light has broken through the clouds and is playing along the Isfjord coast of Svalbard. I often try to capture the magical high-arctic light in its many forms and expressions. This is taken during a hike up Blomsterhøgda, outside Longyearbyen.Photo and caption by: David Wrangborg

At the Water's Edge: CommendedShingle StreetIt was a stormy day, but the shingle banks at Shingle Street in Suffolk create a natural harbour. There was a spectacular sunrise over the sea, but when I saw that the row of cottages opposite might be briefly illuminated against the dark brooding sky I knew that was the shot I wanted.Photo and caption by: Lee Acaster

At the Water's Edge: CommendedIce DanceOne of the difficulties related to this kind of image is that the piece of ice has to be perfectly motionless during the time exposure. This is a challenge because the incoming waves are usually strong and tend to move the ice around. Several trials are usually necessary.Photo and caption by: Samuel Feron

Wildlife Insight: WinnerArabian oryx, United Arab EmiratesUnlike the story of so many other species, the reintroduction of the Arabian oryx into the wild, after the species went extinct in the wild in the 1970s, is a success. There are now over 1,000 individuals living in the wild. I have been living in the United Arab Emirates for some years, and been into the desert many times to find and photograph the elusive Arabian oryx. On this particular day, I witnessed a scene I had been dreaming of. I drove the 4x4 carefully into position and placed the oryx at the edge of the viewfinder to reflect the sense of emptiness in the desert. I converted the image to black & white to convey the beauty of this desert dweller in the most optimal and simple way.Photo and caption by: Stefan Gerrits

Wildlife Insight: CommendedMother Bear and CubsWe’d had four days in a blizzard in Kaktovik, Alaska, and a small group of us were on a tiny boat, buffeted by the wind but totally captivated by the journey of a mother bear seeking a more sheltered site to feed her cubs.Photo and caption by: Judith Conning

Wildlife Insight: CommendedFishing at SunsetI visited Lake Clark, Alaska slightly too early in the season for the salmon run. Fortunately there were still a few salmon running in the estuary this big female grizzly bear offered up some stunning photographic opportunities, silhouetted against the Alaskan sunset, as she tried to catch the salmon.Photo and caption by: Kevin Morgans

Wildlife Insight: CommendedMother and CubI was tracking this mother and cub near Churchill, Canada, for five days. Despite the bad weather, I returned to them after dinner on my last day of filming, as I had pre-visualised a shot in the Arctic sunset light. One little gap in the otherwise covered sky for a few seconds was my gift from Mother Nature."Photo and caption by: Michael Maes

Live the Adventure: WinnerSki Touring, SloveniaThe weather conditions were extraordinary that day on 2104m Vajnež mountain in the Karavanke Alps in Slovenia. When we arrived on skis under the saddle we were confronted with a heavy windstorm. The sunbeams were penetrating through the thin clouds and the spindrift. I wanted to capture the sense of struggle involved as the heavy gusts tried to throw us off balance. After taking the shot, it was just another 500 metres to where there was some shelter from the wind, and from there we decided to continue our expedition to the summit.Photo and caption by: Sandi Bertoncelj

Live the Adventure: CommendedWild Mountain: The Ridge IWild Mountain: The Ridge I is the first in a mini-series of images taken on UK mountains, which are processed in a manner intended to convey the often claustrophobic and threatening nature of these majestic lumps of rock. This image is from Striding Edge in the Lake District.Photo and caption by: Greg Whitton

Live the Adventure: CommendedAl Medawara mountainLocated 100km south-west of Cairo in Egypt, Al Medawara mountain in the Faiyum oasis is an amazing place where earth meets the sky and opens a gate to the stars.Photo and caption by: Ibraheem Al-Awadi

Live the Adventure: CommendedGrimberger Sichel BridgeI love to combine sports with architecture and landscape in my pictures. This picture was taken at sunrise on a trip to the Grimberger Sichel pedestrian bridge in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, with Basti Aldehoff, a slackliner from Cologne. I was attracted by the combination of water, architecture and light, and captured the scenery while lying in a rubber dinghy.Photo and caption by: Jan Faßbender

Live the Adventure: CommendedRide on the RidgeIt was an autumn afternoon when we went with friends on a cycling tour on Gubno Mountain, in the Karavanken Alps in Slovenia. We arrived at the summit half an hour before sunset, just in time to take the best photos. The light was awesome; the sun was shining through the thin clouds, causing long shadows, and mist was lifting from the valley. I asked my friend to ride on the ridge, and I made this shot from some distance away. I aim to capture the spirit of mountain biking and to show that it takes place in a beautiful environment, in this case among breathtaking mountains of the Alps.Photo and caption by: Sandi Bertoncelj

Small World: WinnerButterfly at Sunrise, NetherlandsI love to photograph insects in the early morning because of the wonderful atmosphere around sunrise. The idea grew in my mind to capture a butterfly opening up to catch the warmth of the first rays of sun. It took some time to find the right location that matched with the pre-visualized image in my head. I visited this particular place multiple times in search of subjects before both the weather conditions and the subject were perfect.Photo and caption by: Johannes Klapwij

Over the course of history, certain iconic photographs have become an integral part of our collective, cultural memory. Steve McCurry's "Afghan Girl," Jeff Widener's "Tank Man," and Nick Ut's "Napalm Attack in Vietnam" are only some of the images that have left a lasting mark as the great photographs of our time. Tim Mantoani aims to immortalize those legendary shots and the brilliant individuals behind them in the ambitious series Behind Photographs, which depicts renowned photographers posing with their most well known images.
Mantoani came up with the idea in 2006, after he had the life-changing experience of renting and using a 20x24 Polaroid camera. The extraordinary camera, which weighs 235 pounds, has its own custom wheeled tripod, and uses film that costs $200 per shot, became the tool that Mantoani has used to photograph his respected peers.
"We have come to a point in history where we are losing both photographic recording mediums and iconic photographers," Mantoani says about his series, which was published as a fantastic volume in 2012. "While many people are familiar with iconic photographs, the general public has no idea of who created them. This book became a means to do that, the photographer and their photograph in one image."Behind Photographs is available for purchase as a hardcover or an eBook online.
Above: Steve McCurry, "Afghan Girl"Jeff Widener, "Tank Man"